§ 7-102. Limited divorce  


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  •    (a) Grounds for limited divorce. -- The court may decree a limited divorce on the following grounds:

       (1) cruelty of treatment of the complaining party or of a minor child of the complaining party;

       (2) excessively vicious conduct to the complaining party or to a minor child of the complaining party;

       (3) desertion; or

       (4) voluntary separation, if:

          (i) the parties are living separate and apart without cohabitation; and

          (ii) there is no reasonable expectation of reconciliation.

    (b) Attempts at reconciliation. -- As a condition precedent to granting a decree of limited divorce, the court may:

       (1) require the parties to participate in good faith in the efforts to achieve reconciliation that the court prescribes; and

       (2) assess the costs of any efforts to achieve reconciliation that the court prescribes.

    (c) Time during which decree is effective. -- The court may decree a divorce under this section for a limited time or for an indefinite time.

    (d) Revocation of decree. -- The court that granted a decree of limited divorce may revoke the decree at any time on the joint application of the parties.

    (e) Decree of limited divorce on prayer for absolute divorce. -- If an absolute divorce is prayed and the evidence is sufficient to entitle the parties to a limited divorce, but not to an absolute divorce, the court may decree a limited divorce.


HISTORY: An. Code 1957, art. 16, § 25; 1984, ch. 296, § 2; ch. 371.